Spring wheel



T. H. SCHUYLER.

SPRING WHEEL. APPLICATIQN FILED MAY 19, 1921.

Patented 0011.24, 1922,

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

I N V EN TOR. Theodora fia/rqy/er:

A TTORNEY.

T. H. SCHUYLER.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I9. I92- 1,433,239. Patented (M. 24, 1922.

T. H. SCHUYLER.

SPRING WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED MAY I9. 192!- Jmmnm (m. 22, 2222 3 SHEETS-SHE 3- M1, to;

Patented Uni. E i,

rnnononn n. scnurnnn,

SPRING Application filed May 19.

,To all whom it may concern: i a

: at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and.

State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring lvheels, of which the following is a specification. e i y This invention relates to a spring hub designed for use. in connection with auto mobile andauto-truck wheels, wherein the cushion means for; the wheels is disposed entirely within the hub.

The object Oil this invention is to provide outer and. inner hub-members which are resiliently connected, wherein the inner hubmember is driven directly and positively by what is known as a floating drive-shaft, and wherein the outer hub is positively driven by the inner hub by means of novel driving devices which arose constructed and arranged as to allow the outer hubmemberuniversal movements in a common vertical plane. The further object is to .PIO'viIlB tubular inner hub comprising two similar sections, which when assembled are interlocked 1n the manner of a wellknown clutch, whereby one part drives the other. A further object is to provide an outer hub-member comprising similar semi cylindrical parts, the said member being divided substantially in the line of the longitudinal axis of the hub and driveshaft, the halves of said outer member being held together like a sleeve, by a close fitting cylindrical outer shell which encloses all of the parts of the hub and also supports the spokes of the wheel. And a furtherobject is to provide novel means whereby the outer hub-member drives the shell and certain other-parts. y I attain these objects by the means set forth in the detailed descript'on which follows, and as illustrated by the accompany.- in r drawings in which figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through the hub. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of ,the inner hub-member and the means for driving the outer hub-member. Fig.8 is a vertical cross-section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar cross-section taken on line 4-l of Fig.1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of one oil the sprlng bars. Fig. 6 1s. a broken sectional view of the spring supporting sleeve, and

Fig. Tisha reduced face view of the split i ties or s'vnalousn, new roan.

WHEEL. y

1921. Serial no. arenas;

ring which retains the springs in place. Fig. 8 is a broken view of the outer hub- Inember and one of the driving rings; showing by full and dotted lines the driving connections between said parts. Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the driving connections b-etween one of the driving rings andthe corresponding flange of the inner hub-member. Fig.10 is a view of one of the flanges of the spring supporting drums; showing the semi-circular 'notchesin relation to the split ring.

.lnithe drawings, .2 represents the shaft which drives one of the rear wheels oi a motor vehicle and to which the power for propelling the vehicle is applied in a wellknown manner. Srepresents the inner hub-member, hav ing a relatively large bore which receives a smaller tubular bearing l. The tube 4- in the present case is preferably an integral part. of the usual stationary hollow rear axle which is arranged concentric to and loosely receives the driving shaft 2. The portion of the cylinder 4 within the hub is provided with oppositely facing cones 4:. at, the latter being supported in tapering annular bearing rings a and l which snugly fit the bore" of the member 9 The 0). member 8 is preiierablyin two sections, as

3' and 8, of substantially equallength, and

the facing ends oit' said sections are pro vided with teeth 3}, and corresponding notches or sockets 3", so that the part 3 may positively drive the. part 3 and the outer endsoif member 3 are provided respectively with annular flanges 3 and 3 The sections of member 3 are provided with two oppositely arranged and corresponding radial tongues S The member 3 is positively driven by the shaft 2, by means of acap 2, which connects with the shaft 2, the said cap being rigidly secured to the outer end of the section 3 by bolts 2*. The

cap Qis provided with a square socket 2b,

which receives the square outer end of the shaft 2, as best seen in Fig. l. 5 is the usual brake-drum which is preferably rigidly. secured. to the adjacent flange of the section 3 by bolts 5i, and is therefore driven by the memberS. v

Grepresents the outer hub-member which is also tubular, and the said member is preferably split longitudinally and horizontally,

as shown by dotted lines in Fig l, and by full lines in Figs. and a, for providing top v and 22.

and bottom semi-cylindrical sections 6 and 6 The member 6 is preferably substan tially the same length as the member 3, and is provided with two annular internal flanges 6 and 6, which are preferably disposed between and are spaced from the external flanges of the member 3 (see Figs. 1 The flanges 6 and 6 are provided in thelr outer surfaces with radial sockets or grooves 6 which are preferably spaced 9O i'l's 'rees from the corresponding parts of the member 8, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and l. Between the flanges 3 and 3 and tie flanges 6" and 6 are disposed similar rings 7. The outer faces of these rings are provided with radial sockets 7 which receive the tongues 3, and said rings have radial ton 'ues 7 which engage the sockets 6, where y the said rings drive the outer hub-member 6. In order to eliminate or reduce the friction between the rings 7 and the flanges of mem bers' 3 and 6, the said rings are )rovided with a plurality of sockets or per orations 7", in-which are disposed balls 7 which also sustain the end thrusts" of the adjacent parts. By disposing the two sets of tongues and grooves of the rings 7 and the flanges of the members 3 and 6 at right angles, the said members are allowed practically universal movements in common vertical plane, while the wheel is rotating and doing its work. This is a very desirable feature, because -it eliminates Inostof the trouble and injurious effects produced by the constant jars and shocks so common to all motor vehicle wheels, and particularly to the heavier and more rigid wheels employed on motor trucks.

The resilient connection between the inner and the outer hub-members 3 and 6 consists of a plurality of similar spring-bars 9 which are disposed in an annular row, in which said springs are preferably regularly spaced and are" positioned about midway between the outer surface of the member 3 and the inner surface of the member 6, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and f. The springs 9 are relatively thick intermediate their ends and then taper gradually towards the said ends. the said arepreferably rounch represents a drum of sleeve which is provl'de'd at its opposite ends with external i1i reg- 1 flanges 9 and 9, which support the sprin 's 9. The inner face of the flange 9 2": is p'r'ovided with circular sockets 9 which receive and supportthe corresponding ends of the springs 9. The flange 9 is provided in lii S periphe a1 edges with semi-circular notches or grooves 9 whch receive and sup port opposite ends the springs 21. The latter ends of the springs 9 are'held ll place by a ring 10, which is rotatable in an annular recess 9 formed iii theou te'r face of the flange 9 as best seen inFi l. The g 1015' provided with a peri heral. fl g 10", which overlaps the adjacent ends of the springs 9 and serves to hold the springs in the sockets 9. The ring 10 is split radially. best shown in Fig. 7, for n'oviding a g o 10 through which the ends of the splii may he passed when applying and removing; the springs. in case one of the springs J breaks, the ring 10 may be rotated until the gap 10 registers with the corresponding socket 9, (see Fig. 7). then be moved endwisc to 'ards the ring i until it is freed. After a new spring 21s placed in position, thering l0 is rotated, suiiiciently to position the gap 10 mid Wil between two of the springs, (sec dotted lines Fig. 7) and then a screw it)" carried lz-y the flange 9 is driven into a tln'cadod hole in the ring 10 for rigidly holding the ring in the idle position. ll rc srcscnts a rin; which loosely surrounds the drun, l and p1 eferably snugly fits the bore of the huh member 6. The ring 11 is provided with u number of equally spaced perl'oratious ll. which receive the thickened middle poi-lions of the springs 9. These perforations are preferably conical at both ends. so that lllt' springs 9 have relatively narrov. hearings in the said ring. The {luring of the perforations ll" facilitates the insertion and removal of the springs. The entire weight of the vehicle and its load is carried by the springs i); Surrounding the split huhmen'iber (i is a close-fitting tubular shell 12. whose inner end is provided with an annular recess or groove in which the spokes l (shown indotted lines in. Fig. l.) are dis-- posed, and held in place by bolts 13. The outer end of the shell 12 is threaded internally to receive the cori'esponrlingr threaded portion Ll of a dust-cap 1-1, which conr pletely closes the outer end of the hub. The shell 12 is rigidly hut detachably secured to the hub-member 6 by a series of bolts 12", which pass through thrcadcgl holes in the shell, and whose inner ends which are preferably reduced and plain, pass through registering perforations in the member 6. The inner ends of the bolts 12 enter correspond ing sockets 11 in the periphery of the ring 11, and prevent the said ring from moving except with the member 6 and the shell 12.

To assemble my improved huh, the section 3 of the inner hill) 3 is first slipped over the cone 4: of the axle l after the ring -lhas been placed on said cone. The brakedrum 5' may he bolted to the flange 3" of the section 3. One of the rings 7, with the bulls 7, in place, is nextslipped over the barrel of the section 3. The di'um or sleeve 9' tothe section 3. 7 with the The spring may '5 fill Leas es balls "i assembled" is neat applied to the seclion :3 of the hub-member This is folplowed by the insertion of the section u of the imb-member 3 intothe part 4 until the teeth ql engagethe sockets 3' The cone l w h the bearing-ring 41 in place is then a'pplied totheouterthreaded.end of theaXle l.

flhis-is tollowedby the applying-of a packmg;- ring lf anda nut 4:", which serve to hold the cones and the bearing-rings in the operative positions, slio'win The next step .to apply the cap 2 to the end of the shaft 2 and secure the said cap to the outer end '11 :the, sleeve 3 by meme or the bolts 2?.

i "the resilient parts ,iirom being cramped.

The neat step 'consists' oi applyingthe bottom section (3? of thesplit outer hub-member to the underside ogtthe hub, after which-the opposite section (5 is applied tothe topside The outer shell 12 is next placed in position, and thebolts12 applied,

shown in Fig. The last step inthe assemblmg; oi the hub consists ot applying;

positejends oi the inner and outer hub membersfnot only. ail'ords a positive and powers ful drivingmeans, butjby locating thesaid ringsuas herein shown and described, the

power is so'applied as to distributeithe strain throughout the eliti.i'e liub. This balancing; or equal zing of the drivingstranrpreyents This greatly enhances the value ofthe springs and also minimizes breakage and deterioration of the partsf a" a l'laving thus described my invention, what I ela'im 'isz i i l. .i-hy spring wheel iar member having external flanges disposed between said members, oneoi said flanges haying a plurality of sockets, the other flange having an equal number of peripheral grooves, a plurality of spring bars supported at then: ends by said sockets and grooves, and a pertorated ring disposed between said outer hub-member and said tubularmember tor supporting the n'nddle portions of said springs.

A spring wheel including a sectional inner hub-member, a split outer hubmen1 ber, atubular part having external annular means for resiliently connecting said tubul ar part and said splitouter hub member, and

devices disposed at tlie'opposite ends ofthe hub-members adapted to drive said outer hub-member.

3. In a springwheel, the combination with aninner hubmember comprising two interlooked sections. and an outer hub member comprising: two semi-cylindrical: sections.

of a tubular member having external flanges disposed between said hub-members, one of sa d flanges having a plurality of sockets,

comprising an inner hubsinember an outer hub-member a tubu 7 i i the other flange having an equal number, of peripheralgrooves, a plurality of spring bars supported at their endsby said sockets and grooves, a mes able split ringftor hold ing said springs in place, and an annular part"supporting said outer hub-member and supported by the middle portions ofsaid springs. I

v a. In a spring wheel the combination with aninn'er hub=-meinber arranged in separable alining sections, an outer hub-member, and tubular member having external flanges disposed between. said hub-members, oi" a plurality oi spring-bars equally paced and supported at their ends by external flanges, a split ringcarriedby'one oi said flanges and coo erating with said "flanges for holding; the springs in place, and means interposed betweei'i and positively connect ing saidouterhub-member and said spring, bar'sfif i p a springwheel the combination with an inner hub-member having external flangesatits opposite ends. and an outer hub-member havin internah flahgesdia posed between the flanges oil the innerinember, of rings disposed between'the adjacent flan of said hub-members balls carried by. said-ringsfor reducing the friction-be, tween the range and said flanges, means for inter-locking said rings with theilanges of said hul'J-members, whereby the outer hubs member is driyenpositively by the inner lnib-memberz atubular member telescoping said inner hub-member, aplurality oi? springbars supported at their. ends by saidtubular member, and an annular part secured to the outer hub-member and supporting the a medial portions of said springs,

6. A spring wheel comprising a sectional end to end and onefof said sections adapted todrivethe other section, a hollow cylinder having, external. flanges telescoping said inner; hub-member, aplurality of spring bars supported at their ends by said external flanges, a split hub-member, an annular support for the intermediate portionsof said springs, said support snugly fitting the bore ofsaid split hub-memberand loosely fitting sa1d cylinder, similar rings disposed concentric to said hub-members, the said ringsproinner hub-member, said sections disposed vided with tongues-and grooves which interlock with corresponding parts of; said hub-- members, wherebythe said outer hub-mem her is driven positively by said inner hubmember.

7. l A spring wheel including an inner hubmember comprising similar axially alining sections, one of said sections adapted to drive the other section, a drive shaft,"1neans for connecting said shaft with said inner 'hubmember, whereby said shaft positively dIlVGS said member, rings surrounding the opposite ends of said inner hub-sections,

means for interlocking said rings with said inner hub-members, a tubular part mounted on said inner hub-member and having 0:;- ternal flanges, a plurality of spring oars supported at their ends by said flanges, annular part supported by the intermediate portions of said springs, an outer hub-me 1- ber split longitudinally to provide similar semi-cylindrical sections, said outer hubmemberx having spaced internal annular flanges which are adjustably interlocked to the said rings, and a cylindrical shell surrounding said outer hub-member and movable therewith.

8. A spring wheel including an inner hubmember comprising similar axially alining sections, one of said sections adapted to drive the other section, a drive shaft, means for connecting said shaft with said inner hubmember, whereby said shaft positively drives said member, rings surrounding the opposite ends of said inner hub-member, means for interlocking said rings with said inner hub-member, whereby said rings are driven by said hub-member, a tubular part closely telescoping said inner hub-member and having external flanges, one of said flanges having a plurality of sockets, the

other flange having an equal number of peripheral grooves, a plurality of SPTll -bars supported at their encs b said sockets and grooves, a perforated annular part support ed by the intermediate portions of said springs, an outer hub-member comprising similar semi-cylindrical sections, said outer hub-member having two internal annular flanges, the corresponding faces of said said member being split ver' y to provine similar eeciwons llf'tliid' teth and.

sockets at their meeting ends ior interlocki said sec-inns, an ouier hub-membe "phi, horizontally to provide similarsemic nndrlcal sections having internal flanges whi l] are disposed between the flanges of the inner hub, he said internal flanges having R's i grooves disposed at liglit angles to the tongues of the inner hub-members, rings disposed between the flanges of the said hubmcmbers, said rings having radial grooves to receive the tongues of the inner hub-EWIN- ber, and having radial tongues which are received by the grooves of the internal flanges, balls carried by the said rings for reducing the friction between said rings and said external and internal flanges, a plurality of springs arranged in an annular row concentric to the said hub-members, the ends of said springs being supported by the said inner hub-member, and an annular part telescoping and supporting said outer hub-member, the said annular part being supported by the middle portions of said springs.

In testimony whereof I ai'lix my signature.

THEODORE H. SCHUYLER. 

